WHEW! Francisco Rodriguez looks worried after loading the bases in the ninth yesterday -- but the Mets closer escaped disaster and nailed down the save in the Amazin's 5-2 win over the Giants.Getty Images

WHEW: Francisco Rodriguez looks worried after loading the bases in the ninth yesterday — but the Mets closer escaped disaster and nailed down the save in the Amazin’s 5-2 win over the Giants. (Getty Images)

It just isn’t a Francisco Rodriguez save without some anxious moments.

“He just needs to have some tension, be on the edge, thinks that is where he pitches best,” Mets manager Terry Collins said yesterday after watching K-Rod withstand a ninth-inning charge in the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Giants.

Rodriguez needed 40 pitches to get the final three outs after entering in the eighth. He is expected to be available for tonight’s game against the Dodgers, but probably wouldn’t be an option for duty tomorrow.

The Giants loaded the bases against Rodriguez on two walks and a single in the ninth. But K-Rod then struck out Miguel Tejada before retiring pinch-hitter Buster Posey to end the game.

Rodriguez entered in the eighth and threw only two pitches — Aaron Rowand got thrown out attempting to steal second, ending the inning.

K-Rod’s troubles began with a walk to Mike Fontenot — on 11 pitches — leading off the ninth.

“I don’t feel like I have thrown the ball [well] yet,” said Rodriguez, who has seven saves in eight tries. “There’s been too many situations where I’ve been falling behind too many hitters.”

Rodriguez has finished nine games, putting him on pace for 47 games finished this season. He needs 55 games finished to trigger his $17.5 million option for next year.

*

Jason Bay arrived around 10:30 a.m. and was activated from paternity leave, after driving home his wife and newborn son, Garrett David, from Greenwich Hospital. Bay had missed the Mets’ previous two games for the birth of his son.

“I was a little low on energy — a night game probably would have helped me a little more,” Bay said after finishing 1-for-3 with a double.

Lucas Duda was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Bay.

*

After two days off to regroup mentally from his recent defensive struggles, Josh Thole is expected to be in tonight’s starting lineup against Dodgers righty Hiroki Kuroda.

*

David Wright made it 8-for-8 in stolen bases with his steal of second in the third inning.